Exclusive Entrevista: Omar Cruz

Mi gente, we have a special delivery fresher than a homemade batida! One of the tightest west coast emcees, Blunts LLA (Latin Lyrical Assassin) is switching-up his underground alias and preparing to add his own sabor to the mainstream hip-hop world as Omar Cruz.

El rey of reinvention has been in the game for over a decade and sparked one of the greatest musical movements with his street album "The Cruzifixion." His rhymes have been described as heavy horns ready to rip at our wounds with raw verses about social injustice and daily life in el barrio. Now the lyrical assassin plans on killing-off all the haters for the third season of "Pimpeando," a series dedicated to giving your car a pimped-out makeover chulo style. Besides spittin' new lyrics for his upcoming album "Sign of the Cruz," Omar spoke to us exclusively about his new album and who he thinks would win a battle between Big Daddy Kane and Snoop Dogg. ¿Qué tú crees? Check it right below the hood!

What made you drop your official alias Blunts LLA (Latin Lyrical Assassin)?

Blunts was actually my street name. It means straight to the point…straight-up. I still use that in my underground work. I had to change it up a little and ended up adding my official name Omar. Cruz comes from my abuelita, may she rest in peace. I wanted to pay tribute to her in some way.

Who do you think would win a battle between Big Daddy Kane and Snoop Dogg?

[Laughs] Big Daddy Kane and Snoop? Man that is hard because they have very similar styles; they are both smooth and they are very intricate with their lyrics and umm…rounds over! I don’t know man. I think whoever ends up with the most girls in the end should win that one.

Which one of your singles best represents Latinos and our cultural movement?

“The Movement” was the first single that I dropped on the Internet. In the song I talk about our struggle as Latinos and let it be known that my generation is not passive. We are going to go get it because we aren’t going to take this sh*t no more. That is why I am here and why people feel my music. We are first and second born immigrants trying to make it in this world. The media tends to add a negative connotation to that word, and I think that song really personifies our movement. Taking it to the streets is always key.

What made you form the collaboration with Frankie J for “To The Top”?

I had written that song probably about a year and a half ago. I had just gotten back from Miami. I was recording at the Hit Factory and I felt like coming from the East of LA…I came from nothing and my family struggled a lot. Here I am in the same recording studio where Jay-Z did “Dirt Off Your Shoulder.” It’s like man, I am doing this….so I had all that energy inside and that’s what it was. Can’t stop…won’t stop.

Frankie seemed like the perfect fit. He knew what I was about as part of the Kumbia Kings himself so for me he is one of the only Latino R&B artists really doing it right now. It was a no brainer for me.

What other up-and-coming projects are you working on besides pimpin' out rides in "Pimpeando"?

I am putting the finishing touches on “Sign off the Cruz,” which is my debut album with [B.Y.I./Geffen/Interscope]. It is going to change how Latinos are seen in the hip-hop world. I feel like there are times when we don’t get that light we deserve, so this album is going to be for all the times my pop's worked in the factory and my mom's had to put food on the table. There’s no dance moves or anything like that…just reality. A lot of the stuff out now lacks substance. I hope everyone enjoys it because I put my blood, sweat, and tears into it.

Forget the shine, this fella is simply passionate about his game. Be sure to check out Omar Cruz on "Pimpeando" premiering today at 4pm and 9pm SHARP. We will prove that you don't need to win la lotería to get your car right so be sure to keep it locked on MTV Tr3s!

Photos via Getty Images

Tags Big Daddy Kane, Hip-Hop, Latin Music, Musica Latina, New Show, Omar Cruz, Pimpeando, Premieres, Snoop Dogg